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Dogs + Tumors + English

These notes are provided to help you understand the diagnosis or possible diagnosis of cancer in your pet. For general information on cancer in pets ask for our handout "What is Cancer". Your veterinarian may suggest certain tests to help confirm or eliminate the diagnosis, and to help assess treatment options and likely outcomes.

Endocrine glands produce specialized chemicals called “hormones”. These regulate and integrate many activities to maintain internal stability of the body. The hormones pass directly into the blood to affect target cells elsewhere.

The bone marrow is the soft tissue inside the bones. Before birth, the marrow contains the primary (stem) cells that from all the red and white blood cells. After birth, some types of blood cells, particularly lymphocytes, are made in other parts of the body.

All tissues and organs of the body may develop cancer (an abnormal overgrowth of their constituent cells). Every organ (liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and so on) contains a supporting framework of fibrous connective tissue as well as nerves to relay information to and from the brain.